Hydraulic slab debarker



J. T. LATIMER HYDRAULIC SLAB DEBARKER March 2o, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Oct. 20, 1954 INVENToR. .Mw/5s 7.' nr/,11m

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March 20, 1956 J, T, LATlMER 2,738,814

HYDRAULIC SLAB DEBARKER Filed OCt. 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

March 20, 1956 1. T. LATIMER HYDRAULIC SLAB DEBARKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Oct. 20, 1954 INVENTOR.

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HYDRAULIC SLAB DEBARKER James T. Latimer, Birmingham, Ala.,` assignor toJackson Industries, Inc., a corporation of Alabama Application October20, 1954, Serial No. 463,422

4 Claims. (Cl. 144z0s) My invention relates to an apparatus forremovingbark from sawmill slabs and the like.;

An object of my invention is` to provide an apparatus for removing thebark from slabs and the like by providing a positive means for holdingthe slab on the con-l veyor and for withdrawing it from the low-pressurearea surrounding the hi gh-velocity water streams.

Another object is to provide an apparatus embodying the foregoingfeatures` and in which the water nozzle is mounted for Vertical movementin accordance with the thickness of the slab being debarked, thusmaintaining the nozzle at the optimum distance from the slab, andincreasing the debarking efficiency of the stream.

A further object is to provide a vertically movable water nozzle of thecharacter designated which shall be adjustably mounted and in which thereaction of the high-pressure water issuing from the nozzle is counter-2,738,814 Patented Mar; 20, 1956 ice i beneath the water iet whereby thesame is positively pulled acted by suitable means such as a Weightoperatively connected to the nozzle-supply pipe.

Briefly, my invention contemplates ardebarking apparatus in which theslabs are placed on a horizontal conveyor such as sets of laterallyspaced chains with suitable attachments thereon. vThe slabs pass into a`substantially closed housingy and come first under a series ofvertically and independentlymovable positively driven chain hold-downunits. The hold-down units are mounted for pivotal movement about theshaft that carries the from the surface of the slabto be operated upon.Thus,.

the nozzle automatically is fixed at the optimum distance in accordancewith the thickness of the-slab .being operated upon. I further providemeans for adjusting the distance of the nozzle from the slab and providea counterweight for holding the nozzle down against the tendency to riseas a high-speed water is discharged therefrom. As will be understood,after the end of a slab is ready to pass from beneath Vthewater streams,there is a tendency for the same to be held back due to the low pressureimmediately surrounding the high-velocity streams of water. My improved'apparatusl thus contemplates that the slab will be engaged 'betweenlthe holdthe slab from the apparatus. v

. Apparatus illustrating the features of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in' which:

Fig. l is a side elevation ofgmy improved apparatus from the lowerpressure area, thus assuring discharge of` with certain parts brokenaway and in section and show v ing the hold-down umts raised for theaccommodation of y relatively thick slabs;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally' along line2-2 of Fig.' l and with certain parts omitted for the sake ofclarity-and showing the apparatus operating upon a slab;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevation looking at the opposite side ofthe apparatus from that shown in Fig.- l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detail fragmental view showing the verticallymovable water nozzle and an end of the hold-down unit which controls thevertical movement of 'Y the same;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally alongline5`5 of Fig. l, and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional erally along line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my inventionI show the same as embodying a sheet metal housing having an infeedsection indicated generally at 10 and a debarking section indicatedgenerally at 11. The section 11 is closed along its sides by plates 12and 13 and also has a top plate 14. The bottom of the housing may beinclined and hopper-like as shown at 16 and there may be a water andbark outlet 17 therein. The slabs or the like to be debarked are fedinto the section 10 onto the upper flights of a plurality of horizontalchains 18 which together form a conveyorp The chains may have suitableattachments 18a thereon for engaging the slabs. The chains are supportedon front view. taken gensprockets 19 and rear sprockets v21 which aremounted horizontal members 27 secured to the inside of the Aside `walls12 and 13. The shaft 23 is driven as will be later explained. Disposedover the lower flight of the conveyor 18 is a bark-deecting shield 25 ofsubstantially inverted,

V-shape, as shown in Fig. 2.

The positively driven hold-down units will now be explained and in Viewof the fact that they are substantially identical, a description of oneset of the hold-down units will sumce for both. The units are pivoted onshafts 2S and 29 which are mounted for rotation 'in suitable bearingscarried on the side of the housing. Each hold-down unit comprises sideplates 31 and 32'pivoted near their upper ends about the shafts 28 and29. Be-

tween each set of side plates, fast on the shaft 28 or 29 as the casemay be are sprockets 33. `Chains 34 are trained over the sprockets 33and over sprockets V36 mountedfor rotation on pins 37 passing betweenthe pairs of plates 31 and 32 near the free or lower ends thereof. Theplates are provided at their lower ends with upwardly extending portions31a and 32a vwhich may be cross braced by members 38. The chains mayhave suitable attachments 34a ,thereon for engaging the slab asindicated by the letter S.

Spanning the upper end of the extensions 31a and 32a is a pin 39.Pivotally mounted on the pin 39 is the lower end of an elongated rod 41which projectsgthrough the top plate 14 and which is threaded asindicated at 41a near its upper end. A compression spring 40 surroundsthe rod 41 and a nut 41b serves-to adjust the initial gap between thelower end of the hold-down yunit and the horizontal ilight of the chain18. The spring 40 thus serves to cushion the downward movement of theunit when the slab runs out from under the same.

From what has been said it will be apparent that each of the hold-downunits comprising a set of the plates 31 and 32 and the chain 34, iscapable of independent upward movement as illustrated7 in Eig. 2 ofthedrawings, whereby attachments 34a engage the slab at severaly placesacross its width as shown.

High-pressure water may be supplied to the apparatus through aA exiblehose 42 under a` pressure of around 800 pounds per square inch. The hose42 connects to the upper end of a vertically disposed supply pipe 43.The supply pipe 43v is mounted; for. vertical reciprocation in a bearing44 carried by the top plate 14: of the housing. As shown in the drawing,atleast two nozzles 46 are mounted on a transverselyextendingmanifoldawhich cornrnunicates with the lower end on the supplypipe 43 whereby thin, cone-shaped streams of waterl under the highpressure mentioned strike the slabA and remove the bark therefrom in themanner understoodfor such nozzles.

In order to obtain adjustment of the nozzles and to cause the same tomove up and down. and thereby remain substantially at a fixed distancefrorn'the surface of slabs of different thicknesses, I may provide onthe supply pipe 43 an upper collar 47 and a lower collar 48. The collars47 and 48 may be adjusted longitudinally of the pipe 43 and heldinadiusted position by means of set screws 47a and 48a, respectively.

Projecting outwardly from the side of the Collar 47 is a pin 49.Thepin49 lits in an elongated slot 51 formed in an arm 52. The arm 52 ispivoted at 53 to a bracket on the plate 14 and carries a slidable weight54 on its opposite end. The weight. may beheld in-adjusted position onthe arm 52 by means of a set screw 56. Also, the downward limit of thefreeendof the arm may be limited by means of an adjustable stop 57ywhich is slidable on a member 58. mounted on` top-of the apparatus.

The lower collar 48 carries apin S9; Pin 59 fits slidably in anelongated slot 61, formed in the outer end of a. bracket 62. The bracket62 may be welded to the upstanding portion 32a of the side plate 32 ofone of the intermediate `hold-down units.

I may provide baffle plates 60-and a swing batiie plate 63 at the placesindicated.

Theapparatus is driven through a gear reduction unit 64 having itsoutput shaft directly attached-to the shaft 23. Power is supplied to theunit 64v from any suitable prime mover, not shown, througha beltr65 to apulley 67. A turnbuckle belt tightening arrangement 68 may be provided.

As shown in Fig. 3 shaft 2,3 carries a gear 69on'the end opposite thegear-reduction unit. Gear 69 meshes with gear 71 mounted on a jack shaft72 which for the purpose of strength and rigidity spans the width of theapparatus. Shaft 72 carries suitable sprockets over which are trainedchains 73 and 74. Chain 73 passes over a sprocket 76 fast on the shaft 28, while chain 7'4 passes over a sprocket 77 fast on the shaft 29.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improvedapparatus will no w be readily understood. By adjustment of the nuts 41hon the several rods 41, and by adjusting the position of the collars 47,48 and the stop 57, the initial gaps between the lower ends of thenozzles and hold-down units and the top of chain 18V may be obtained.Likewise, the amount of force required to hold the nozzle supply pipe 43down may be determined by the positioning of weight 54 on the arm 52.With the apparatus adjusted so that the chains 34, at their lower endsbeneath the` sprockets 36,

contact they upper surfaceof the thinnest slabsto be debarked, the slabsare fed onto the infeed sectionl, on top ofthe chain 18. As soon as thevslab comes beneath the sprocket 36 the several hold-down units positionthemselves vertically to thel thickness` of the slab accordingly and asshown in Fig. 2: The slab thus is adequately held down while thehigh-pressure water from the nozzles 46 strikes the bark and. removesit.v The nozzles. 4.6. are maintained at the optimum distance from thebark being engaged by the movement of the hold-down unit carrying thebracket 62, whereby the most eicient debarking is obtained.

By positively driving the hold-down units through the shafts 28 and 29,I provide anA apparatus in which the slabs not only are held down whilethe streams of water are removing the bark but in which the slab may bewithdrawn from the low-pressure area. surrounding-the water iets. As isknown, when water is moving aty the high velocity necessary toremovebark, there4 exists aroundrthe stream or streams an area of very lowpressure. I have found that slabs, being relatively light, tendto slideon the conveying chains 18 due to being held back after the rear ends ofthe slabs pass immediately from beneath the water jet. In my improvedapparatus the chains 34 all are driven, and since the chains of thehold-down units accommodate themselves to the thickness of the slab atthe particular point of engagement, I Withdraw the slabs without suchslipping. I

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improvedapparatus for dcbarking slabs. It will be understood that thc chains34'v all are driven at substantially the same rate as thc conveyorchains 1S, Further, it will be seen that the pivotally mounted holddownunits are held down by gravity so that the slabs are subjected to thedcbarking water streams while being held down-by either the front orforward group of holddown units. Also, the lower ends of the hold-downunits preferably are close enough to each otherso that the rearmostunits will engage the normal length slab before such slab runs frombeneath the for-wardrnost units. actual practice my apparatus hasprovedsatisfactory in every way.

While l have shown my inventiorrin but one form, it

will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is noty so limited,but is susceptible ofvarious changes and modifications without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only Suchlimitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth inthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In apparatus for debarking slabs and thev like, a horizontal conveyoron which slabs are placed bark side up, a plurality of downwardlyvsloping driven hold-down chains disposed for the lower ends thereof tocontact the upper surface of a slab as it moves along on the conveyor,frame and sprocket means supporting the chains for independent verticalmovement, a debarking nozzle near the lower ends of the chains, and asecond group of similar hold-down chains mounted in frames with thelower ends thereof locatedv on the side of the nozzle opposite the rstnamed chains, said second-named chains being close enough to the nozzleto engage a slab while the same is under the nozzle.

2. In apparatus for debarking slabs and the like, a

horizontal conveyor on whichslabs are placed bark side up, a drivenshaft spaced above the conveyor and extending across the same, aplurality of sprockets fast on the shaft and spaced from each other,pairs of elongated frames pivotally supported on the shaft and with oneof said sprockets therebetween, a sprocket journalcd between each pairof said frames near, the free ends thereof, chains trained over thesprockets between each pair of frames, attachments on said chainsdisposed to engage a slab on the conveyor, means limitingthe, movementof the free lower ends of said'pairs of frames toward the conveyor, ahigh-velocity-watcr discharge nozzle near the free ends of said pairs offrames disposed to direct a debarking stream onto a slab, and meansoperatively connecting thenozzle to one of said pairs of frames wherebythe nozzle raises and`lowers withlthe pair of frames to which it isconnected.

Inv

3. In apparatus for debarking slabs and the like, a horizontal conveyoron which the slabs are fed, a first group of slab hold-down units eachcomprising a pair of laterally spaced elongated frames, a sprocketjournaled between the frames near one end thereof, a drive shaft abovethe horizontal conveyor, a sprocket fast on the shaft, means pivotallymounting the opposite end of the elongated frames on the shaft and oneither side of the sprocket, a chain passing over the sprockets andengageable with a slab that moves along on the conveyor, a second groupof hold-down units substantially duplicating the structure of the firstgroup, a second driven shaft on which the second hold-down units arepivotally supported, means associated with the ends of said units remotefrom the driven sprockets limiting movement of said remote ends towardthe conveyor, a debarking nozzle between the groups of hold-down units,and means to deliver a stream of debarking fluid to the nozzle.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the means limiting themovement of the remote ends of the units toward the conveyor comprises acover plate over said units and forming part of a housing for theapparatus, a rod on the free end of each unit projecting upwardlythrough said plate, threaded upper ends on said rods, springssurrounding the rods, lower ends of said springs resting on top of saidplate, and nuts on the upper threaded ends of said rods engaging upperends of said springs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,397,490 Kenney Apr. 2, 1946 2,473,461 White June 14, 1949 2,568,554McClay Sept. 18, 1951 2,578,804 Holveck et al. Dec. 18, 1951 2,587,473Holveck et al. Feb. 26, 1952 2,664,929 Simons Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 35,574 Sweden Oct. 1, 1913

